MORRISTOWN, NJ — April 9, 2014— For the second year in a row, CIE Tours International has received the prestigious Scotland’s Heritage “International Tour Operator of the Year” award in recognition of CIE Tours’ significant contribution in developing exciting programs for travelers to discover, explore and enjoy the breathtaking beauty and charm of Scotland. The award was presented at the VisitScotland Expo in Glasgow on April 2, 2014.

Scotland’s Heritage is a partnership of 27 major Scottish tourism partners, representing more than 800 of Scotland’s finest travel attractions, many of which can be experienced on CIE Tours’ highly popular dedicated Scotland tours — including the deluxe 13-day Scottish Isles and Glens tour. On that tour visitors will experience the land of enchanted castles, picturesque lochs and spectacular scenery not just on the Scottish mainland but in other magical places like the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, where Bonnie Prince Charlie fled after his defeat at Culloden; and the Islands of Orkney, an archipelago off the north coast that features beautiful beaches, rich heritage, culture and wildlife.

Scotland and all its history and glory can also be experienced on any number of CIE Tour’s wide range of escorted tours with visits to Ireland, England and Wales, including the new Celtic Sampler Tours, where tourist will enjoy first-class accommodations, Scottish and Irish dinners and entertainment, visits to 5,000-year-old tombs, and attractions to venues like the Beatles Story Exhibition in Liverpool, and more.

Interest in visiting Scotland has never been greater and travel experts agree that the moody Highlands, grand castles and plentiful lochs are a popular and value-driven draw for 2014. Other must-see attractions include the famed the Old Course at St. Andrews, known as the Home of Golf, and the thrilling Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, where Scottish Regiments and from all over the world put on an spectacular performance during a three-week period in August.

About CIE Tours International

For more than 82 years, CIE Tours International of Morristown, NJ, has set the standard for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. This renowned tour operator delivers unsurpassed experiences and value for both packaged vacations and custom independent travel, combining the best of each destination with expert professional tour guides who bring each itinerary to life. All CIE Tours’ travel programs are protected by the company’s $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit guaranteeing that travelers are never charged for special features considered optional extras with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — March 21, 2014 — You can’t tame the wide, wild ocean, but you can get up close and personal with its coastline and experience some of that wildness for yourself. And if you’re looking for a coast to explore, few places in the world hold greater appeal than Ireland’s west coast. Tourism Ireland is kicking off a wave of renewed interest in exploring the country’s West Coast with the Wild Atlantic Way, an effort to bring deserved attention to a coastal driving route along the entirety of the coast.

The Wild Atlantic Way is one of the world’s longest and most exciting defined coastal drives. Embark on any portion of this spectacular, 2,400 kilometer route, and you’ll be starting an adventure you’ll never want to see end. No matter on what portion of the Wild Atlantic Way you end up on, you’ll be mesmerized – steeped in history and culture and stunned by beauty.

Don’t necessarily fancy a self-hosted holiday? No worries: Many of the indelibly beautiful and memorable spots you’ll encounter if you traversed all or a section of the Wild Atlantic Way are also highlights of many escorted vacations within Ireland offered by CIE Tours International. For example, on many of the dozens of Irish CIE Tours options you’ll see are the stunning Cliffs of Moher; Achill Island; the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula; Skellig; and the Slieve League Cliffs.

All CIE Tours’ escorted vacations are all-inclusive, encompassing airport transfers; deluxe motorcoach transportation; luxury hotel accommodations, taxes and porterage fees; and all admission fees; as well as most meals, special attractions and evening entertainment. Additionally, CIE Tours’ expert tour directors and local guides help bring each destination to life, providing travelers with authentic travel experiences that continue to resonate long after their return home. For more information about itineraries and travel incentives, or to reserve a tour, call CIE Tours International at 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

About CIE Tours International

For more than 82 years, CIE Tours International of Morristown, NJ has set the standard for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. This renowned tour operator delivers unsurpassed experiences and value for both packaged vacations and custom independent travel, combining the best of each destination with expert professional tour guides who bring each itinerary to life. All CIE Tours travel programs are protected by the company’s $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit guaranteeing that travelers are never charged for special features considered optional extras with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

MORRISTOWN, NJ— February 10, 2014 — Dublin Castle was the ideal setting for CIE Tours International’s 24th Annual Awards of Excellence that crowned 80 Irish hotels and visitor attractions with well deserved recognition. On Tuesday, January 28, Ireland’s Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, presented plaques to the winners – hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions – all of whom received consistent high praise in surveys of 28,000 customers. The awards ceremony marked the end of a phenomenal year for Irish tourism, helped in no small measure by The Gathering, a nationwide effort to bring the Irish diaspora – and anyone else who feels the pull toward this ancient land – back home.

“Business was up 20% in 2013,” says Brian Stack, Managing Director of CIE Tours International, giving credit to the efforts of The Gathering, which pulled in an estimated 4,500 additional visitors to CIE Tours, generating revenue in the neighborhood of $9.5 million. Confidence is booming – and hopes for continued and even increased success in 2014 is on everyone’s radar.

Ireland has always been an alluring place to visit – and now getting there has never been easier. Increased air access from the West Coast, as well as from Canada and Australia (via global hubs in the Middle East) has made Irish travel simpler. Mr. Ring, the Irish tourism minister, notes that U.S.-to-Ireland air capacity is set to rise more than 10% this year – after a 25% increase in 2013. Canadian access is up 71%.

Getting people to Ireland is one thing; making sure their visit surpasses expectations and win raves is another – and CIE Tours, one of the largest purchasers of tourism services across the country – has made it a practice to monitor feedback. Says Mr. Stack, “CIE Tours brought 30,000 visitors to the Cliffs of Moher, 17,000 to Bunratty, 20,000 to the Guinness Storehouse and 13,000 to the Titanic exhibition in Belfast.” That kind of volume translates into a great ability to fine-tune the visitor experience so it remains top-notch and a consistent value for the money.

Overall Category Winners — Gold Awards

Best 5 star hotel Killarney Park Hotel, Kerry

Best 4 star hotel Ashling Hotel, Dublin

Best 3 star hotel International Hotel Killarney

Best Hotel Accommodation Conrad Hotel Dublin

Best Hotel Dinner Cabra Castle Hotel, Cavan

Best Hotel Service and Hospitality Granville Hotel, Waterford

Best B&B / Farmhouse Applecroft House, Killarney, Co Kerry

Best Event Dinner / Entertainment The Merry Ploughboy, Dublin

Special Dinner Feature Killeen House Hotel, Killarney, Co Kerry

Best Tour Feature Brendan Ferris – Sheep Dog Trials

Best Walking tour Ronan McNamara – Derry Walking Tours

Best Visit Slieve League Cliffs, Donegal

All CIE Tours’ escorted vacations are all-inclusive, encompassing airport transfers; deluxe motorcoach transportation; luxury hotel accommodations, taxes and porterage fees; and all admission fees; as well as most meals, special attractions and evening entertainment. Additionally, CIE Tours’ expert tour directors and local guides help bring each destination to life, providing travelers aged eight and older with authentic travel experiences that continue to resonate long after their return home. For more information about itineraries and travel incentives, or to reserve a tour, call CIE Tours International at 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

About CIE Tours International

For more than 82 years, CIE Tours International of Morristown, NJ has set the standard for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. This renowned tour operator delivers unsurpassed experiences and value for both packaged vacations and custom independent travel, combining the best of each destination with expert professional tour guides who bring each itinerary to life. All CIE Tours travel programs are protected by the company’s $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit guaranteeing that travelers are never charged for special features considered optional extras with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — January 6, 2014 — Travelers considering a European vacation this year must take a look at the spot that has recently been named by the World Travel Awards as Europe’s Leading Destination of 2013: Yorkshire, the largest county in England and one of its most historic. With past winners including perennial tourist draws such as London, Berlin and Paris, the award has left Yorkshire residents deservedly proud – and eager to show offthe charms of their beautiful county.

Yorkshire highlights include the spa town of Harrogate; the ancient city of York and the stunning stained-glass windows of its inspiring York Minster cathedral; taking a step back in time on a North Yorkshire Moors Railway vintage train ride; and a walking tour of the quaint seaside town of Whitby, where the skyline is dominated by the ruins of St. Hilda’s Abbey. These days, Yorkshire has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other county; only London itself has more.

For travelers looking for even more reasons to go north on their next holiday, travel-guide publisher Lonely Planet has named Scotland a top-10 destination. With the start of a Scottish tourism initiative, “Homecoming Scotland 2014,” the city of Glasgow has been given a magnificent facelift for its hosting of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup, among other wonderful events and sights. Those with a connection to a clan – or anyone with tartan in his or her blood – are invited to “come home” and experience a Scotland’s historic castles, beautiful lochs and welcoming hospitality.

And there’s no better way to travel around these newly lauded locales than with inclusive CIE Tours and explore Yorkshire’s ancient and modern cities, and its stunning countryside. The unparalleled Scottish highlands and cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow are also well represented on CIE Tours’ Best of Britain and British Heritage packages. In fact, on the 10-day Best of Britain tour, visitors will experience the best of York, and enjoy the Beatles Story Exhibition in Liverpool. The 11-day British Heritage tour includes Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as Loch Lomond in Scotland, and takes you to York and Liverpool for a true best-of-the-north experience.

Like all CIE Tours’ vacations, travel packages are all-inclusive, encompassing airport transfers; deluxe motorcoach transportation; luxury-hotel accommodations; taxes and porterage fees; all admission fees; and most meals, special attractions and evening entertainment. Additionally, CIE Tours’ expert tour directors and local guides help bring each destination to life, providing travelers aged eight and older with authentic travel experiences that will continue to resonate long after they’ve returned home. For more information about itineraries and travel incentives, or to reserve a tour, call CIE Tours International at 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

About CIE Tours International

For more than 82 years, CIE Tours International of Morristown, NJ, has set the standard for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. This renowned tour operator delivers unsurpassed experiences and value for both packaged vacations and custom independent travel, combining the best of each destination with expert professional tour guides who bring each itinerary to life. All CIE Tours’ travel programs are protected by the company’s $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit guaranteeing that travelers are never charged for special features considered optional extras with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

— Take advantage of CIE Tours’ Top 10 Hot Deals, and other great vacations before December 31 and save up to $500 per couple —2014 Ireland & Britain Brochure

MORRISTOWN, NJ — October 21, 2013 — Travel experts agree that Ireland and Britain will remain among the hottest tourist spots through 2014. Vacations at these popular and exciting destinations just got hotter with a special, limited-time offer from CIE Tours International, the leading provider of great getaways to Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Travelers booking their 2014 Ireland or Britain coach tour before December 31, 2013 can save five-percent on the land portion for any CIE Tours vacation. Early booking means a savings of up to $500 per couple, or $250 per person. To qualify, simply use promotional code 2014EARLY5. A $400 deposit per person is required. This offer applies to new bookings only and is not valid for group travel, or combinable with other CIE Tours’ promotions or discounts.

The early booking discount is available on any of CIE Tours’ vacation packages, including its 2014 Top 10 Hot Deals featuring several new and exciting tours. Among the new lineup for 2014 includes the Celtic Sampler Tour, where visitors are guided through such Scottish wonders as St. Andrews, known throughout the world as the Home of Golf; the renowned Highland region, with its breathtaking vistas; walking tours of picturesque Glasgow and Edinburgh; and a roundtrip ferry transport from the Scottish mainland to the quaint Isle of Bute, with its fine views, glorious gardens and other fascinating attractions.

Among the great variety of CIE Tours’ 2014 Top 10 Hot Deals are the seven-day Irish Heritage and Dromoland Castle Tour, and the Taste of Scotland and Ireland Tour. The Irish Heritage and Dromoland Castle Tour features stay at the five-star Dromoland Castle Hotel; an open-top bus tour through Dublin with a visit and drink at the Guinness Storehouse or the Old Jameson Distillery; a ferry ride across the River Shannon and a walking tour of Waterford — home to some of the world’s finest crystal. Some of the many highlights of the Taste of Scotland and Ireland Tour include six sumptuous dinners, a Dublin canal dinner cruise with live music, an Edinburgh ghost walking tour and a scenic journey on Loch Ness, where who knows what, may appear from the fabled loch. These are but a few examples of CIE Tour’s world-class tours to Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales that will create memories that will last a lifetime. To see other great vacation packages, visit www.cietours.com.

These and all CIE Tours’ travel programs are protected by our $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit that ensures that travelers are never charged for special features often considered optional, or extra, with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

About CIE Tours International

For more than 81 years, CIE Tours International of Morristown, NJ has set the standard for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. This renowned tour operator delivers unsurpassed experiences and value for both packaged vacations and custom independent travel, combining the Icons of each destination with expert professional tour guides who bring each itinerary to life. All CIE Tours’ travel programs are protected by the company’s $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit guaranteeing that travelers are never charged for special features considered optional extras with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — August 23, 2013 — In 1962, Nora (Norrie) Coakley booked an Irish bus tour that forever changed her life. A young, single woman living in Dublin with her father, Norrie suggested the two of them embark on a CIE Tours International bus jaunt as a break from the routine of their daily lives, and as an easy way to see more of their Irish homeland. What she couldn’t have known is that on that trip she’d meet an Irish-American World War II veteran named William (Bill) Short, a Chicago accountant traveling on his own, seeking to connect with his Irish roots. Norrie and Bill never expected to find true love.

Sometime during their coach journey, Norrie and Bill took a side trip by car – minus Norrie’s dad – to Killarney. What transpired between them was an instant attraction and a year later Norrie moved to Chicago to marry Bill. Their love grew, and for Bill and Norrie, happily-ever-after included three children and six grandchildren. As a beautiful reminder of their meeting, a vintage 1962 CIE Tours’ poster now hangs in their Western Springs, IL home. And, in August, the couple will take another CIE Tours’ Irish vacation, this time to revisit the place they first fell in love, and to celebrate their golden anniversary.

Norrie booked that long-ago vacation as an escape from everyday life. Bill signed on for an adventure that would help him discover his Irish ancestry. Neither expected to find love. But that’s the thing about a CIE Tours International vacation – no matter what you seek, there are always surprises to be found. What you can be sure of on any CIE Tours International vacation, however, is that you’ll travel in luxurious comfort on your fully escorted, all-inclusive trip. You can also be sure that any one of the dozens of Irish itineraries will leave you in love – if not with a fellow traveller, then with the green and friendly island that will greet you with open arms and always welcome you to “come home to visit.”

About CIE Tours International

For more than 81 years, CIE Tours International of Morristown, NJ, has set the standard for fully escorted motorcoach tours of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. This renowned tour operator delivers unsurpassed experiences and value for both packaged vacations and custom independent travel, combining the best of each destination with expert professional tour guides who bring each itinerary to life. All CIE Tours’ travel programs are protected by the company’s $550+ Advantage, a no-fee benefit guaranteeing that travelers are never charged for special features considered optional extras with other tour companies. For additional information, please contact 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — June 18, 2013 — On the northern coast of Ireland, ancient rock formations collectively called Giant’s Causeway sit, in all their natural majesty. It’s a locale where visitors marvel, climb, hike, photograph and hold their breath in witness to their wonder. Want a look? Head over to CIE Tours Takes You to Northern Ireland’s Amazing Giant’s Causeway, one of a series of videos on CIE Tours’YouTube channel. Watching the video’s vivid scenes, you can almost feel the bracing spray of the North Atlantic on your face and the sturdy, age-old rocks beneath your feet.

— Memorable Liverpool Beatles tour along with visits to Windsor Castle, Scotland and Wales part of CIE Tours’ Icons of Britain vacation —

MORRISTOWN, NJ — June 4, 2013 —CIE Tours International is waiting to take you away on an incredible journey to see how four young lads from Liverpool reached incredible heights of fame and fortune from humble childhood beginnings. Roll up for the tour that will take you through time and see places that capture the early 1960s, allowing you to personally experience the very places that helped make the Beatles the biggest band in the world. Read more →

MORRISTOWN, NJ — May 13, 2013 — Scotland’s Heritage, a partnership of 27 major Scottish tourism partners, recently presented CIE Tours International with the Scotland’s Heritage “Travel Operator of the Year” award at VisitScotland Expo in Glasgow. Collectively, Scotland’s Heritage represents over 800 of Scotland’s top visitor attractions, including many found on CIE Tours’ popular dedicated Scotland tours. These attractions are also included on CIE Tours’ combined Ireland/Scotland packages, which are among the company’s top-ten best-selling vacations. Read more →

(NU) – The trip may have started out as a way to discover their roots, but it ended with a New York couple saying “I do” – for a second time – in a small village in Ireland.

As part of the ongoing extravaganza called “The Gathering: Ireland 2013,” Debbie and Francis “Mac” McFadden spent eight days recently experiencing the country Irish-Americans like them were being encouraged to “come home to visit.”

The hustle and bustle of Dublin. The scenic countryside where tradition holds that St. Patrick fasted for 40 days atop Croagh Patrick Mountain. The 15th century Bunratty Castle that played host to a medieval-style banquet complete with singing lords and ladies.

The husband and wife, together with 78 other relatives, and members of the East Islip, Long Island, division of the Ancient Hibernians Our Lady of Knock, a fraternal organization that’s long helped new Irish immigrants adjust to life in America, saw it all – and more.

“It really did feel like we were home,” says Mac, 57, who works for a local school district. “Everyone we met, from the CIE Tour International guides to the Irish people, made us feel like we were family.”

The fourth day was the clincher.

At the Knock Shrine in the County Mayo village of Knock – world-renowned as the site where the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and John the Baptist are said to have appeared on Aug. 21, 1879 – Debbie and Mac reaffirmed the marriage vows they’d first made to each other 30 years ago on Long Island.

“It was an anniversary we’ll never forget,” says Debbie, a 52-year-old nurse. “And both our parents and our daughter were there for it.”

The Gathering is though of in Ireland as “the people’s party,” with locals themselves intent on helping the huge Irish diaspora here in the U.S. soak up the best of the Emerald Isle’s culture, tradition and unique sense of fun. Among the big events still to come this year are: Bloomsday in Bruff, a celebration of all things James Joyce; the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival; National Heritage Week; the Tramore Horseracing Festival; and the Cats Laughs Comedy Festival.

If You Go: The respected CIE Tours International has escorted millions of Americans to Ireland over the past 81 years, and offers many fully inclusive vacation options including exclusive motorcoach tour booked by the McFadden group. For info, call 1-800-243-8687 or visit www.cietours.com/gathering.

CIE Tours is pleased to announce that, due to strong consumer demand, a new 15- or 16-day tour combining a week each in both Celtic countries of Scotland and Ireland is now available for immediate sale. In keeping with CIE Tours’ focus on quality, the new Scottish & Irish Gold offers deluxe and superior first class hotels, full breakfasts, 11 dinners including special evenings with entertainment and a comprehensive daily sightseeing program. Read more →

At a reception in the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin on Monday 28th January, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar presented plaques to the winners of the prestigious CIE Tours International Awards of Excellence. Read more →

The Beatles Story in Liverpool is one of the hottest visits on several CIE Tours’ programs

MORRISTOWN, NJ — January 8, 2013 — Three United Kingdom cities – Glasgow, Belfast, and Liverpool – have been named among the top-ten trendy spots to set down your suitcase in Europe this year. TripAdvisor.com, the online travel site, surveyed users’ opinions and reviews in order to compile their hot list of the up-and-coming, the unexpected, and the freshly updated among some lesser-known but still sparkling cities.Read more →

MORRISTOWN, NJ — January 7, 2013 — You can make Irish coffee at home, of course – adding a shot of whiskey and a dollop of cream to your steamy mug. Though how much more delicious would that drink be if it were served at a bar in Ireland filled not with tourists, but with locals; along with the music and easy conversation the Irish are known for? On CIE Tours’ 8-Day Irish Gold Tour, you feel that simple yet priceless experience as part of an unforgettable vacation. Sure, you’ll hit the can’t-miss highlights, but you’ll also experience the small but memorable moments built in. In all, you come away with an indelible understanding of what makes this island so special. Read more →

MORRISTOWN, NJ — January 7, 2013 — When you imagine a fantasy-fulfilling trip to Britain and Ireland, do castles appear prominently in your dreams? Perhaps stony, moody, imposing castles? Maybe ancient castles with a role in the centuries-long history of these island nations? Or even haunted castles? If so, some of the featured accommodations in CIE Tours International’s British and Irish Delight, 9-day fully escorted coach vacation, will turn those fantasies into a modern-day reality. Read more →

MORRISTOWN, NJ— September 24, 2012 — Like few other lands, Ireland calls its sons and daughters back to itself, exerting a pull that can be felt across the miles and the years. It’s been said that everyone has a little bit of Irish in them. For those who truly can trace their ancestry to the Emerald Isle, they feel that pull and answer the call, like the Gramling family recently did. Read more →

(Morristown, NJ, August 14, 2012) What Shakespeare called “this royal throne of kings … this blessed plot, this earth, this realm” is still, from the northernmost reaches of Scotland on down through England and Wales, nothing short of iconic. It’s as though what Shakespeare knew has continued to channel its way through the centuries, born over and over again, most recently in British Olympic athletes. Take cyclist Bradley Wiggins, who scored seven cycling medals – four of them gold – throughout his Olympic career. A fan of Wiggins’, dizzy with his idol’s recent win, crowed, “It’s a wonderful time to be British.” Truly, icons everywhere. Read more →

(NewsUSA) Morristown, NJ, July 25, 2012 – Don’t be surprised if you get an unexpected e-mail or postcard from someone you know – or possibly don’t know – in Ireland in the coming months asking you to “come home to visit.” It’s part of the unique outreach tied to the year-long extravaganza called “The Gathering: Ireland 2013,” and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.Read more →

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – May 23, 2012 – Global interest in travel to Britain continues to flourish thanks to the fast-approaching Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the recent first anniversary of William and Kate’s Royal Wedding, all of which have served to keep the Empire in news headlines around the world. Vacationers intrigued by all the royal happenings and wanting to experience the very best Britain has to offer need look no further than the brand new Best of Britain tour from CIE Tours International, the standard-bearer for fully escorted tours of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.Read more →